Tanya Mosley

The U.S.

helped arm and funded, and the violence has now spread into Lebanon and Iran.

But within days of his parents' murder, Mahouz spoke.

His family was not seeking revenge.

Instead, they were seeking peace.

Those words reached Palestinian peacemaker Aziz Abu Sarra.

Years before, when Aziz was only nine, his own brother had been arrested and tortured in an Israeli military prison for allegedly throwing stones at soldiers.

He later died from his injuries, and Aziz says he recognized Mahouz's grief and decided to write him.

What grew between them has become a brotherhood, a TED Talk seen by millions, and eventually a journey.

Ten months into the war, the two of them got in a van together and drove for eight days across Israel and Palestine through checkpoints, holy cities, refugee camps, and separation walls.

They wrote everything down in a book called The Future is Peace, A Shared Journey Across the Holy Land.

Mahouz Inan and Aziz Abu Sarra.

Welcome to Fresh Air.

I first want to offer my condolences, Mahouz, on the death of your parents and Aziz, the loss of your brother.

Thank you so much for sharing your stories with us and sharing your pain.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, let's spend a moment on what led you to each other.

The overwhelming response on October 7th has been rage and retaliation.

Israeli cabinet members called for the total destruction of Gaza.